Isle magician appears
on Burton show

Family cast its spell on Tracy Toguchi

Star-Bulletin

Kristi Toguchi, who grew up in Aiea, will be among the magicians featured on "Lance Burton's Young Magician's Showcase airing 4 p.m. tomorrow on the FOX Family Network.

Toguchi, who attends Fordham University in New York, is a third-generation magician.

"My love for magic was bound to happen," she said. "My grandfather James Yoshida is a magic dealer and a magician. ... Both of my parents also do magic.

"I was basically surrounded by magic 24/7. I never thought I would pick up magic as a hobby because I was surrounded by it all the time."

But at age 12, she asked her grandfather to show her a magic trick, and that led to her first public performance before the junior magician's club in Hawaii.

"I had to perform some magic to be accepted into the club. Back then, the club was rather small ... and they were all boys ... so you can imagine how nervous I was."

She said she didn't look up at her audience at all, but got into the club anyway by changing colors of handkerchiefs and making flower boxes appear.

The television special was taped at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, where Lance Burton presents a nightly live magic show.

This time around, Toguchi wasn't nervous and certainly didn't feel alone on stage.

"Working with Lance Burton was a blast. (He) was also my assistant in my act so that was a real treat for me."

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Sailors sing

Anchors aweigh for an evening of nautical flair as the U.S. Naval Academy Men's Glee Club presents a free performance 7 p.m. Sunday at Central Union Church.

The choral group offers a line up of classical and popular music, Broadway tunes, and barbershop harmony, and marks their first performance on Oahu in more than 20 years.

The Men's Glee Club has performed at Presidential Inaugural Galas and appeared on NBC's Todayshow and ABC's Good Morning America.

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16 FRI

St. Patrick's Day Concert

Normally you can find them at O'Toole's Pub, but this weekend the Celtic ensemble Irish Hearts comes to the Academy Theatre for an evening of music and stories in honor of the holiday.

The five-member band's music is made from such instruments as the tin whistle, mandolin, bouzouki and bodhran (Irish drum).

>> Place: Honolulu Academy of Arts
>> Time: 7:30 p.m.
>> Tickets: $15; students, seniors and academy members are $12.
>> Call: 532-8712

Doug Varone Company

The acclaimed troupe returns with a program of three dances.

Of special note, this production marks the return of Hilo native Eddie Taketa to the Islands. Taketa, who has performed with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, is also a former recipient of a Bessie Award, given for sustained achievement in dancing. Pieces include "Possession," which was inspired by the A.S. Byatt novel of the same name, and "Bel Canto," a comedic selection danced to the accompaniment of excerpts from Bellini's "Norma."

>> Time: 7:30 p.m., repeating tomorrow at the same time
>> Place: Kennedy Theatre
>> Tickets: $20 general, $18 for non-UH students, UH faculty and staff, and $9 for UH students
>> Call: 956-7655

Na 'Oiwi

Performing songs from their latest CD, "Crossroads," Dennis Kamakahi and the gang combine ukulele, acoustic and electric guitar and electric bass, forging their own take on Hawaiian contemporary music.

>> Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
>> Place: Kapiolani Park Bandstand
>> Admission: Free
>> Call: 843-8002

Yale Alley Cats

The Yale Alley Cats will take the stage for a concert of four-part

a cappella harmony, with members of the Aloha Chorus.

>> Time: 6:45 p.m., following the regular 5:30 bandstand concert
>> Place: Kapiolani Park Bandstand
>> Admission: Free.
>> Call: 843-8002

Laura Mercier

You may not ever be Brooke Shields or Julia Roberts, but that doesn't mean you can't look like them. Or at least wear the same make-up.

Celebrity cosmetician Laura Mercier specializes in what she calls the "flawless face," a feat she accomplishes with her own line of make-up and skin care.

She'll be showing off her spring collection of lip and eye colors, and giving tips to unfamous glamour cats.

>> Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
>> Place: Neiman Marcus Ala Moana
>> Cost: Free
>> Call: 948-7586

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17 SAT

7th Annual Swamp Romp

The event that carries the distinction of being "Hawaii's dirtiest foot race" returns.

Marine Corps Community Services sponsors this trek through the mud, a 5.2-mile obstacle course in which six-member teams vie for the chance to win medals and perpetual bragging rights.

The course is described as "flat and sandy and really muddy." Long trousers and boots are a necessity.

The race is limited to 225 teams and a separate "family fun" course will be available.

>> Starting time: 7 a.m.
>> Place: Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay
>> Call: 254-7590
>> Cost: $72 per team

Leilani Rivera Bond

The award-winning Kauai musician and kumu hula performs songs from her CD, "Na Hoku O Ka Lani." Bond's music is paired with lyrics from various languages - including Tahitian, Cook Islander and Hawaiian.

>> Time: 3 p.m.
>> Borders Books and Music, Ward Centre
>> Cost: Free

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Make way for marchers in green; they invade Waikiki tomorrow, starting at the Fort DeRussy end of Kalakaua Avenue.

Follow the parade to the Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel, where there'll be a poolside party beginning with Irish music, a performance by the Honolulu Police Department Pipes and Drums, and sales of corned beef and cabbage and various libations.

>> Time: Parade starts at noon; party starts at 1 p.m.
>> Call: Matthew Fitzgerald at 377-1224

Art in the country

A melange of New Age, Celtic and Hawaiian music is in the offing at this benefit for the Hale'iwa Arts Festival. The work of local artists will be for bid in a silent auction.

>> Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
>> Place: Waimea Falls Adventure Park
>> Call: 637-2277
>> Cost: $20

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18 SUN

Spring Concert

Kaiser High School Band and Orchestra present "Delights 2," with the symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band and wind ensemble.

Along with the music, food booths sponsored by local restaurants, a haircut kiosk and a massage booth are part of the event.

>> Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
>> Place: Kaiser High School Gymnasium
>> Cost: $3 adults; $2 students.
>> Call: 395-5425

Hau Sweet it is...

Children ages 6 to 10 are invited on a short hike to a hau grove. Not only does exercise come into play, but with the help of outdoors exerts they'll gather natural materials to make pendants and necklaces.

Reservations required.
>> Time: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
>> Place: Hawaii Nature Center
>> Call: 955-0100

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THE WEEK AHEAD

Na Leo memories

Lehua Kalima Heine of Na Leo Pilimehana, shares her experiences as a recording artist in Hawaii, on the mainland and in Japan in a lecture, "Possibilities in Today's Hawaiian Music Industry; A Local Girl's Perspective."

>> Time: 12:30 p.m. Tuesday
>> Place: Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawaii-Manoa
>>Admission: Free
>> Call: 956-8742

Songs for the Soul

Discover kanikau, or Hawaiian chants of mourning, through a presentation by Rubellite Kawena Johnson, an emeritus professor of Hawaiian language who has been studying the art form. Various styles of chanting will be demonstrated by research assistant Earl Pa Mai Tenn.

>> Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
>> Place: Old Archives Building, Iolani Palace
>> Admission: Free
>> Call: 537-6271

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